Formation of the New Model Army

Timeline

1. 1645Westminster · LondonThe Long Parliament passed the Self-Denying Ordinance, requiring members to resign their military posts and clearing the way for unified command. The ordinance authorized the raising of a new army funded directly by Parliament, replacing the previous patchwork of county private forces.
2. 1645Midlands of England · EnglandParliament selected elite troops from forces such as the Eastern Association, reorganizing about 22,000 men into standardized brigades, establishing standard formations for cavalry, dragoons, and infantry, and instituting regular pay and discipline under the Articles of War.
3. 1645Newbury · BerkshireLord Thomas Fairfax formally assumed command of the New Model Army as captain-general, with Cromwell serving as second-in-command of the cavalry. Once assembled, the new army marched to the front to prepare for a decisive engagement with Charles I's main force.